Helianthus laetiflorus blooms. Aptly named, Showy Sunflower (Helianthus laetiflorus) is one of the largest and showiest of the native sunflowers. The high contrast between the bright yellow petals and dark centers give this sunflower a distinctive appearance.
Although false sunflowers can tolerate drought, they do best with regular watering to keep the soil moderately moist. So if you've had a stretch without rainfall and the soil is dry, be sure to water your plants.
These plants prefer full sun to grow and bloom their best. They can tolerate light shade, though blooming might not be as vigorous and the stems might be floppy and require support. Plus, they can get leggy if they don't get at least four to five hours of sun per day.
You likely won't have to fertilize your plants unless you have very poor soil. Rich soil can cause a lot of leggy stem growth on false sunflowers. So go easy on the organic matter and fertilizer.
False sunflowers can thrive in a variety of soil types. They can even tolerate dry, poor, rocky, sandy, and clay soils. However, they prefer average, well-draining soil with a neutral soil pH for optimal growth.
False sunflowers are cold-hardy perennials that will come back year after year in northern climates up to USDA growing zone 3. Some varieties also have good heat tolerance, making them ideal for the southern end of the plant's growing zones. These plants also aren't overly picky about humidity.
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